A number of area hotels, including the La Quinta hotel on Route 3 west in Clifton, received envelopes containing a white-powdery substance last Friday. Local police and fire officials along with members of the HAZMAT team (Hazardous Materials) and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s office responded to the LaQuinta site to investigate the envelope being delivered by a U.S. Postal employee. The letter, on the hood of the vehicle, was taken away and inspected.

CLIFTON - Three Clifton hotels became part of an area-wide investigation after they received envelopes containing a white powder substance delivered via the Clifton Post Office last Friday. The white powder was tested and determined to be non hazardous, according to the FBI’s Newark Division.

On Tuesday afternoon, Special FBI Agent Barbara Woodruff said more than 12 envelopes containing a white powder were recovered throughout northern New Jersey as of last Friday. She said no charges have been filed against any individuals in connection with the incidents, but added field tests as well as further lab tests have "continuously tested negative for biotoxins." Woodruff said the FBI does not discuss whether a suspect is in custody or not and will only reveal information once charges have been filed.

On Friday, just days before the Super Bowl was to be held at Met Life Stadium on Route 3 in East Rutherford, Clifton Postmaster Emad Attaalah said a postal worker was stopped by law enforcement officials as he tried to deliver mail to the La Quinta Inn hotel on Route 3 east. The officials recovered one envelope that contained the powder and in the parking lot behind the hotel, which was taped off, the Clifton HAZMAT unit and the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office inspected the envelope.

At about 3 p.m. on Friday, the caution tape was removed and the site was announced to be clear. Attaalah said the mail carrier was not suspected to be involved.

Envelopes with the powder were also recovered at the Howard Johnson Inn located at 680 Route 3 west and the AVE Clifton extended stay apartments at 743 Passaic Ave, as well as at least nine other hotels in surrounding municipalities including Rutherford, Hasbrouck Heights, Lyndhurst, East Rutherford and Carlstadt.

A manager at the Howard Johnson said that the envelope never made it inside the hotel and he does not know who it was addressed to. Management for the AVE Clifton has been unreachable.

All hotels underwent similar procedures once the envelopes were recovered. All were eventually reopened on Friday.

"The joint terrorism task force and hazardous materials units have responded to several locations that have received a suspicious letter and substance. There are no reported injuries at this time, and the locations are being secured. This situation is becoming thoroughly investigated and more information will be provided when it becomes available," according to a New Jersey State Police statement.

The FBI is active in the investigation with local law enforcement officials, including the Passaic County Prosecutor’s office.

United States Postal Service officials in the area have deferred further comment as well, regarding a specific mailing address or return address.